"Who do you say I am?" asks Jesus. This is the famous question that Peter answers on behalf of the apostles: "You are the Christ of God."

But looking deeper in the Gospel, you will find two things.

First, Jesus deepens Peter’s answer by sharing four surprising facts about himself. Second, Jesus adds phrases that apply each of these four facts to us:

1. "The Son of Man must suffer greatly."

When Peter calls Jesus "the Christ of God," he means that he is God’s anointed, a leader who will triumph over Israel’s foes. Surely, the Christ is not supposed to suffer greatly. But Jesus applies the way of suffering to us: "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself." Gains in this world are not our goal; victories in the next, even at the cost of this world, are.

2. "He must be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes."

If the Christ is not a political leader, he must be a religious leader, right? No, says Jesus. It is important to note that Jesus doesn’t reject religious leaders. They reject him. Elsewhere, he counsels about following their decrees, but only insofar as they model him. In our time, too, our faith must not depend on the faith of anyone else. Jesus applies this attribute to us when he says a follower of his "must take up his cross daily and follow me."

3. "He must be killed."

For Peter, hearing this probably seemed a bit much. But Jesus says he won’t just suffer for his people. He will give all, to the last measure. He applies this to us when he says: "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it." As Pope Francis recently put it, "Following him means going out of ourselves and making our lives not something we ‘possess,’ but a gift to him and to others."

4."On the third day [he must] be raised."

The last surprising thing Jesus says about himself is that he must rise from the dead. The Resurrection is the key to all of the other facts about Jesus. His way of humility has power because it doesn’t end in self-destruction, but in making room for God’s victory. Jesus applies this to us by saying: "Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." His way is not a ticket to misery, but to joy; it isn’t a way to destruction, but to freedom.

We are the body of Christ: We can expect to share his way of the cross and his resurrection to glory.

Comments

Roland, you know the problem comes when the T.V, newspapers information and the chattering masses one gathers begin to encroach on one’s mind and thoughts such that one finds themselves unable to control their thought process during Prayers, Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and during the Holy Mass. When one reaches that point, it is time to pull back, analyze the activities of one’s daily life to discover what is necessary and what is plainly unnecessary cacophony of clanging noises which are crowing God out of one’s life. And one readily remembers that God is in Charge of everything and one’s hoarding of all these news and distractions are harmful to one’s Spiritual Life and growth.

Posted by Roland on Tuesday, Jun 25, 2013 8:40 AM (EDT):

I would rather encourage my brother Gerard to continue reading newspapers and watching tv and continue his business as usual but with a godly approach. God wants us to be Light and Salt for our world. Daily prayer and Mass can be source of energy to be Salt and Light, even in business arena. The saints like mother Teresa did not desert our world but faced it with faith and deep commitment to both God and the marginal people.

Posted by Aloysius Duque on Monday, Jun 24, 2013 4:14 PM (EDT):

This is so true for all who belong to Jesus!

Suffer
Rejected
Killed
Resurrected

Posted by Mary@42 on Monday, Jun 24, 2013 12:58 AM (EDT):

Oh Gerald Soong…you sure are talking about this old sinner. I had resolutely stopped reading the Newspapers and watching T.V. as I concentrated on the Eucharistic Apostolate of the Divine M, Kenya and we elected a President who has been falsely accused at the International Criminal Court of being responsible for the Post Election Violence that rocked our County in 2007/08 when the loser refused to accept defeat and called for mass action where grave atrocities were committed. This young man I have known since he was born and I have fallen back into watching T.V. and occasionally reading the Newspapers.

Reading what you have resolved Gerald Soong, I feel I must leave the fate of my Country and our infant Government - which was inaugurated on the 9th of March this year - in God’s Divine Hands and go back to my Spiritual Rule of Life. Thank you, Gerald Soong, for being the Voice of our Merciful Jesus telling me not to”....walk ahead of me, and don’t fall behind”. Though I often feel I am far, far away from Him, I will not give up striving to discern His Will daily and struggle to fulfill it. Please remember me in your Prayers. Mary Moll

Posted by Susan Fox on Sunday, Jun 23, 2013 9:59 PM (EDT):

Congratulations Gerard Soong. God has blessed you with great understanding of the path. Persevere. Jesus told Fr. Michael Gaitley of the Marians of Stockbridge, Mass. “Little Lamb, Little Lamb, don’t walk ahead of me, and don’t fall behind.” Fr. Gaitley was on a 30 day retreat, and he had pushed himself too hard, and then wanted to give up. And at some points he avoided Jesus because he was afraid of what He’d ask him to do. He found out that Jesus didn’t expect him to be crucified along side Him, simply to be His friend while He was suffering. And he found the best penances were done in obedience, not forced on himself by his own ideas. He has a great program called “33 Days to Morning Glory” about True Devotion to Mary, followed by “Consoling the Heart of Jesus.” You can look at his program at http://www.allheartsafire.org/the-program/

I believe Gerard Soong above grasped the whole point of the gospel today.

Posted by Gerard Soong on Sunday, Jun 23, 2013 4:46 PM (EDT):

It is so hard to make God’s will and make it my will especially in this world environment. And especially so if one is working in a commercial environment. But I must go for it. I stop watching TV, stop reading daily newspaper, unnecessary social gatherings and try reading more religious articles, lives of saints and trying to attend daily mass. I feel I’m inching my way to doing God’s will but I know I’m far far away from it. I doubt I’m able to have the ability of the saints to do what they did. But I’ll keep striving and I’‘ll keep praying.

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